Ashes 2021-22: Cricket Australia has outlined agenda to let Ashes stars operate as normal citizens
There will be no disco lights for the Ashes adversaries this summer, but it seems everything else will be in play as Cricket Australia attempts to ‘normalise’ the series.
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Alfresco dining, beaches and golf courses are all part of Cricket Australia’s determination to give Ashes stars their freedom this summer … although Christmas shopping might be a step too far.
The tour protocols Australia has sold to England are based on common sense rather than draconian rules and regulations; where players will be allowed to live normal lives in public — within reason — and Test matches won’t necessarily be shut down even in the worst case scenario there’s a Covid scare in one of the camps.
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England and Australian players will be allowed to eat and drink in outdoor settings, with the line being drawn at crowded indoor situations like busy shopping malls and packed nightclubs.
The sensible guidelines presented beg the question, ‘what was all the fuss about?’ But Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley insists the tour was never in doubt despite the muddled messages and stalling out of England.
Like a closing pitcher in baseball sent out in the last inning to save his team the World Series, Hockley has now rescued Australian cricket two summers in a row from the financial disaster of India or England walking out on the game.
But this time around, the boss can at least put confidence in the safety net of the vaccine and not keep mentally weary players shielded inside a bubble.
“We want everyone involved in the tour to have the best possible experience. Everyone will be double vaccinated. Our protocols are very measured to ensure people have a really great experience and a good quality of life,” Hockley told News Corp.
“In a large part it comes down to just people using their common sense. It’s not about going to big crowded places, but certainly when they’re on tour we’re expecting people to be able to have a round of golf, people to go down to the beach and have a meal sitting outside.”
If a member of the Australian or Indian touring parties had contracted the virus last summer it would have effectively ended the series on the spot.
But in the West Indies back in July Australia was able to play through a Covid scare, while England and India’s final Test last month could have proceeded a couple of days later had Virat Kohli’s team not decided to flee for the IPL.
It gives confidence that as Cricket Australia lengthen the leash given to players at the same time states like NSW return to freedom, that any player or staff who might come into contact with the virus can be isolated without it derailing everything.
“I think in any circumstance, you do everything you can to continue. We’ll do everything to make sure the infections don’t (happen) … but if there was an infection … I think one each one will be treated on a case-by-case,” Hockley said.
“Typically it means isolating the person infected and anyone who is considered to be a close contact and then people are tested then and on we go.
“We’ve got the very best medical advice. Players (from both teams) are extremely compliant and they’ve been really, really good at making sure that they adhere to all the protocols.”
Reports in the English press have detailed that family access to swimming pools was one of the key sticking points for the ECB in their discussions with Cricket Australia, painting the picture of an entitled approach to touring in a pandemic.
Even now that a squad has been named, the ECB are still maintaining their touring of Australia is subject to key conditions.
Hockley says that’s merely in reference to the process of Visas being allocated to the England party and ongoing biosecurity discussions between the two boards, adamant the Ashes was never in danger.
“I don’t think it was every in serious doubt, but until we actually work through all of the detail we weren’t able to confirm it. But it’s confirmed now and I think everyone is looking forward to the cricket getting started,” he said.
“Normally what you’d do is you’d get the team sheet and you’d send it off the travel agent and off you go.
‘But we’ve been putting in place charter flights, exclusive use of entire properties, putting up bio security plans for Government consideration. A lot of it is the volume of work. And there’s no shortcuts.”
Poms name elite squad for unique Ashes adventure
There is no Ben Stokes, but England has cast aside its Ashes anxieties to name a near full-strength squad to face Australia this summer.
Speculation has been rife over recent months that a host of big names were on the verge of refusing to tour over Australia’s strict Covid protocols.
But the last minute intervention of Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley has convinced England’s stars to take the plunge, with world class matchwinners Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad and James Anderson all featuring in a 17-man squad.
Ten of the 17 players chosen are touring Australia in an Ashes series for the very first time, including Buttler – who is Joe Root’s vice-captain in the absence of Stokes.
Buttler was particularly hesitant due to concerns about subjecting his young family to strict hotel quarantine – however, even the wicketkeeper has been satisfied by the protocols struck by Hockley.
Chris Woakes and Mark Wood were the other two big name players with young families, and they have also been selected.
It’s a major boost for cricket’s showpiece rivalry, after initial concerns Australia might be facing a B-grade England.
But Covid aside, England have some major holes to fill in the shape of the two weapons Australia fears the most.
As expected, Stokes has been left out as he continues to take time with his mental health, while spearhead fast bowler Jofra Archer is also out of the tour with an elbow injury.
Sam Curran is out with a stress fracture to his back while England selectors have also been forced to find life beyond Moeen Ali – the extremely handy spin bowling all-rounder – who decided to retire from Test cricket a few weeks ago.
But, crucially, no player has withdrawn due to the pressures of the pandemic or in response to having to quarantine in Australia.
“A tour of Australia is the pinnacle as an England Test cricketer. I am delighted that all of our available players have committed to the tour. We are looking forward to touring and enjoying the experience of this historic series,” said coach Chris Silverwood.
“This is why we play and coach to be involved in iconic series like this. More than half of our squad haven’t featured in an Ashes tour before, which means we will be fresh and looking to embrace the cricket and the excitement of touring one of the best places in the world.
“I believe we have selected a well-balanced squad with options in all areas and a blend of youth and experience. There is real competition for places and a genuine desire to work hard and compete, aiming to create some history.
“We are under no illusions about how difficult the task is going to be. Australia have been strong at home in the past, and there is an expectation on them to win this series. However, from our point of view, there is genuine excitement and belief that we can do something special.”
England will also send out their Lions’ team to help them prepare with tour matches while serving their 14-day quarantine period on the Gold Coast.
Surprise venues in frame to host extra Ashes Tests
Cricket hungry Sydney and Melbourne have made it clear they’re ready and raring to host more Tests, with England reserving the right to request changes to the schedule.
England’s Cricket Board on Saturday confirmed they had approved the tour to go ahead, and now their selectors are set to name a squad in the next 48 hours so the complicated process of getting them into the country for the Ashes can begin.
Ben Stokes is still considered highly unlikely to tour, but otherwise there is a growing expectation England will be full strength.
The ECB’s commitment to the tour still comes with an asterisk, and Australian cricket officials are resigned to there being conjecture over tour conditions right up to and then throughout the series as both board’s juggle the ever-changing response of State Governments to the pandemic.
However, the Ashes is on and for the second summer in a row Cricket Australia has been praised for rescuing the game from disaster.
As revealed by News Corp, England players may refuse to go into bubbles during the Ashes, putting enormous pressure on the Perth Test in particular, given the West Australian Government’s hard line stance on quarantining.
In a summer which will mark 140 years since Australia and England first played at the SCG, Sydney has made it very clear to Cricket Australia they’re ready to mobilise for extra Tests.
Cricket Australia is yet to officially announce the tour, but NSW powerbrokers were on the front foot.
“Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings and chief executive Nick Hockley are to be congratulated for their role in negotiations with the ECB and with the State and Federal Governments here in Australia,” said Venues NSW and Sydney Cricket Ground Chairman, Tony Shepherd, who has stressed Sydney would prefer to see the Ashes go ahead as scheduled.
“In difficult circumstances, they have delivered a great result for cricket fans around the world, just as they did for India’s tour of Australia last summer.
“We’re delighted with the overnight confirmation from the England Cricket Board that this summer’s tour will go ahead.”
England’s confirmation of the tour taking place is still subject to conditions, but NSW Sports Minister Natalie Ward was also letting the cricket world know Sydney was open for business.
“One of the greatest sporting rivalries in the pantheon of world sport has been saved this coming summer,” said Ward.
“This legendary and beloved Cricket Test match dating back to 1882, will herald our emergence into an exciting new era in New South Wales. We will again showcase why Sydney is the sports capital of Australia.”
Victoria is also poised to play a key role in the Ashes, with the families of England players set to be quarantined – possibly for a shortened 7-day period – in the Yarra Valley prior to Christmas.
The MCG would also be in prime position to host extra Test matches should Cricket Australia change the schedule.
It’s understood England have agreed in principle to the tour after being satisfied at quarantine conditions offered by CA for their squad on the Gold Coast which would include a period of isolation, but then the ability for training freedoms during the two weeks.
England continue to give themselves an out if Covid conditions went pear shaped in Australia, but Cricket Australia insiders say discussions only point to the fact the Ashes will certainly proceed – the only lingering doubt is on whether the current schedule of playing in five different cities will be possible.
“To facilitate further progress and allow a squad to be selected, the ECB board has met today and given its approval for the tour to go ahead. This decision is subject to several critical conditions being met before we travel,” said the ECB.
“We look forward to the ongoing assistance from Cricket Australia in resolving these matters in the coming days.”
‘Critical conditions’ must be met for Ashes to go ahead
England players will resist being bubble wrapped in the Ashes to the point where Australia may be forced to consider 11th hour changes of Test venues.
That’s according to Ashes great Michael Vaughan, who says Cricket Australia would be risking the financial disaster of not getting a full five Test series completed if they try and prioritise the fulfilment of the schedule over players’ freedoms.
India showed the threat of player power is real when they refused to play their final Test against England last month, illustrating Australia might have been lucky to have avoided their own walk out last summer when the Indians blew up about being forced into a bubble in Queensland.
England on Friday night gave conditional approval for the Ashes to go ahead, but it’s still pending specific conditions being met by Cricket Australia.
“Over recent weeks we have made excellent progress in moving forward on the England men’s Ashes tour,” said the ECB.
“To facilitate further progress and allow a squad to be selected, the ECB board has met today and given its approval for the tour to go ahead. This decision is subject to several critical conditions being met before we travel.
“We look forward to the ongoing assistance from Cricket Australia in resolving these matters in the coming days.”
Vaughan said England players he’s spoken to have been pleasantly surprised at the proposed conditions Cricket Australia have drawn up, but warned Joe Root’s men want to be able to move freely in whatever city they’re in – a stance which could put enormous pressure on the ability of cities like Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide to hold onto their Tests.
“From what I know from the England players is they won’t be doing much of it in a bubble,” Fox Cricket expert and former England skipper, Vaughan told News Corp.
“I think people in Australia probably don’t realise what England have gone through … they’ve pretty much been in a bio bubble for 18 months and it’s just not feasible for them to come to Australia for an Ashes tour and stay in a bubble.
“You’re giving a team absolutely no chance. We all know the Ashes is the most intense and pressurised series of them all and if you can’t have a release to go out and about to do normal things, you’ve got no chance. It’s not fair on a player.
“So I would say that there’s a better than likely chance of the series having a full, thorough five-match series if things can be relaxed a little bit.
“Everyone has got to be reasonable and accepting that things might not look like a normal Ashes series.
“And if that means they play more in Sydney … or there are two or three played in (one) venue, just get it done. Just get it done. We all want five Tests.”
With NSW opening up on Monday and Victoria also implementing a road map back to more normal life once vaccinations hit 80 per cent, there is a feeling that come the Ashes some States may be much more liberal than others with border policies and restrictions.
But as it stands Cricket Australia believe they can execute the schedule as planned, including getting players from Sydney across the notorious West Australian border and into Perth for the final Test.
Despite England’s desire to stay bubble free, Vaughan confirmed the Ashes is in no doubt and the ECB will send a near full strength squad capable of pushing Australia to the limit.
Vaughan said Cricket Australia had delivered generous and accommodating protocols for players, but the problem with Covid is there can be no guarantees.
“There’s still concerns because I don’t think anything can be definite in these times. I think the wording is a little bit precarious that it says you can probably be able to do x and probably be able to do y but it can’t be definite because of these times,” said Vaughan.
“But look, there will be an England team comes to Australia, that’s an absolute guarantee. The Ashes is on. I can’t see from what I’ve heard in terms of what the Australian cricket board and the Government are allowing them to do, that there will be many pull out.”
Vaughan concedes fellow Ashes legend Ian Botham had a point when he questioned whether some England players were looking for an excuse to not come out to Australia.
But he says that’s not the prevailing view from the dressing room, and England are coming out adamant Australia is beatable.
“I think Beefy (Botham) is in his right. I think there will be one or two players who will be seeing missing an Ashes trip as potentially a chance at not having their record tainted. I get it, it’s the nature of the beast,” said Vaughan.
“But I know the majority that I know are desperate to get over there and play. They just want the times to be better than they have been.”
*Michael Vaughan will be joined by special guest James Anderson in the final episode of ‘Road to the Ashes’ airing next Wednesday at 8.30pm EDT on Fox Cricket, available on Foxtel.
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